One of the strangest but most powerful study methods I discovered is this: teach what you are studying. Not after finishing the syllabus. Not after exams. But while you are learning.
You don’t even need a real person. An imaginary student works just fine.
Why Teaching Works So Well
When you teach, your brain switches roles.
You are no longer trying to remember words — you are trying to make sense.
Teaching forces you to:
- Understand the concept clearly
- Arrange ideas in a logical order
- Use simple language
You can’t fake understanding when you’re teaching.
Teaching Automatically Stops Mugging Up
If you try to teach a memorised answer:
- You get stuck when you forget one line
- You panic or lose the flow
But if you teach from understanding:
- You explain naturally
- You adjust words easily
- You stay confident
This is the exact opposite of mugging up.
How to Teach While Studying (Simple Method)
You don’t need a classroom. Try this:
- Read a small topic
- Close the book
- Explain it out loud as if someone is listening
That “someone” can be:
- A junior student
- A friend
- Your reflection
- An imaginary person
The brain doesn’t care — the effect is the same.
Teaching Starts With Understanding
You can’t teach what you don’t understand.
While explaining, you’ll notice:
- Which parts feel clear
- Where you hesitate
- What you don’t fully get yet
This directly connects to understanding the concept before memorising.
Confusion becomes visible — and that’s a good thing.
Teaching Turns Answers Into Stories
When you teach, you naturally explain things like a story:
- What is the topic?
- Why does it happen?
- What happens next?
This creates flow, not paragraphs.
That’s why teaching supports learning answers like stories, not paragraphs.
You Automatically Use Your Own Words
While teaching:
- You don’t remember textbook lines
- You explain in simple language
- You adapt based on understanding
This strengthens the habit of using your own words while studying.
Teaching Helps You Revise Smartly
Teaching is revision — but smarter.
Instead of rereading:
- You recall actively
- You test your understanding
- You revise only weak areas
This is exactly what revise smart, not repeatedly means.
Mind Maps Make Teaching Easier
If you have a rough mind map:
- Teaching becomes structured
- You don’t forget points
- Flow stays clear
This links teaching with mind maps and rough diagrams.
How This Helps in Exams
Because you’ve already “spoken” the answers many times:
- Writing feels natural
- You don’t search for words
- You can adapt answers to the question
Exams feel less scary when answers live in your understanding, not memory.
Common Student Mistakes
- Waiting to fully finish the chapter before teaching
- Trying to sound perfect
- Teaching silently without speaking
Speak it out. Messy teaching is still powerful.
Final Thoughts
If you remember just one thing from this blog, let it be this:
If you can teach it, you truly know it.
Teaching — even to an imaginary person — turns studying from memorising into understanding. And once you understand, remembering becomes effortless.